I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Will the clerk call the role? Councelor
Tenari Garcia is absent. Councelor Jimenez Rivera >> present. >> Councelor Rupo >> here. >> Council Taylor >> here. >> Councelor Robinson >> here. Council Tesh >> here. >> Councelor Kelly Garcia absent. Councelor Santig >> present.
>> Council Leega absent. Councelor Brown >> present. >> And councelor Deus is absent. Seven members present. You have a quorum, Mr. Vice President. >> Thank you, Mr. Clerk. Okay. Memorials and celebratory resolutions.
>> First item on the agenda is a certificate issued for Hispanic Heritage Month uh presented by councelor Kelly Garcia who is absent. Council Chesh is presenting on her behalf. >> Good afternoon to all. I have been asked by my colleague councelor Kelly Garcia to present this certificate of
recognition to Kasa Ortiz. In celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, we recognize the Ortiz family and the family-owned business for their extraordinary contributions to the city of Chelsea. First opened in 1982, Kasa
Ortiz is one of the city's longest standing Latinoowned businesses, has welcomed generations of residents with Spanish language goods, celebration essentials, and warm community centered service. For more than four decades, the
Ortiz family has strengthened our local economy, preserved cultural traditions, and provided a gathering place where neighbors feel at home. With gratitude, we honor Kasa Ortiz and the Ortiz family for their enduring entrepreneurship,
cultural sto stewardship, and outstanding service to the Chelsea community. Congratulations, Caseris. suspend the rules. >> Uh ask to suspend the rules. >> Move to suspend the rules. >> Okay,
>> we'll suspend the rules. Uh so we can get some picture. Uh councelor uh Brown >> Brown. >> Thank you. >> I did it. >> Thank you, Councelor Vice President. Um, want to also congratulate the Ortiz
family on their outstanding service to our community. They've been around as the resolution state for many years, but not only um they've been around, they've been actually involved in our community. Their daughter is here who was a former city council member. We're so glad um
grateful for the opportunity and all the work that they've done here. So again, I want to congratulate them on this award. Thank you. Maybe they want to come to this center. I want to see. We got Okay.
Continue on with the memorials and celebratory resolutions. Our final resolution on the agenda is from Council of President Deus and all members for Veterans Day. Whereas President Woodro Wilson declared November 11th, 1919 as the first observance of Armmesus' day on
the one-year anniversary of the end of hostilities in World War I with Congress passing a law in 1938 to establish November 11th annually as Armmesus' day to honor World War I veterans. And whereas following World War II and the Korean War, Congress passed public law
380 in 1954 to change Armmesus Day to Veterans Day to honor all veterans who have served in the United States Armed Forces. And whereas a report from the 2020 US Census indicated that since the founding of our nation, more than 41 million Americans have earned the title
of veteran. And whereas the United States Census Bureau reported that approximately 16.2 2 million Americans were veterans in 2022, having served in the armed forces in the period from World War II to post September 11th. And whereas our nation's veterans have answered the call of duty and fought
from Antidum to Amian, Normandy to Okinawa, Jawsen Reservoir to Hamburger Hill and Kabell to Baghdad in service to our country. And whereas the unwavering commitment of our veterans have preserved our freedoms and saved millions around the world from tyrannian oppression. Now therefore, it be a
result that the Chelsea City Council hereby recognizes November 11th, 2025 as Veterans Day in the city of Chelsea, solemnly remembers the sacrifices of all those who fought so valiantly on the seas, in the air, and on foreign shores to preserve our heritage of freedom and
liberty, and calls upon all residents of Chelsea to participate in local Veterans Day activities to honor those who have served our nation. >> Make adopted unanimously under suspension if there are no objections. And just briefly, the city of Chelsea will be holding our Veterans Day
tomorrow at the Clark School starting time at 11 o'clock and the Wounded Warriors Project will be one of the speakers. >> Councelor Brown. >> Thank you, Mr. Chairman. um to all past
present um veterans um our two veterans we have on our council, Council Robinson and Celo Recupo, my daughter is also a veteran. We thank you for your bravery, your selfishness, um selflessness for our country, the work, the strong
attitude that you've taken into combat when those was called to go into combat. Our country needs people like you and those who are are still serving to keep us safe from possibilities around the world. We honor
you today because the president years ago 1938 1919 I believe was first observed and changed to Veterans Day because there's a need to honor veterans. It's not just for those that have served, but it's also
for those that continue to serve today. We're reminded of this day every year. Um, and sometime folks get it confused with Memorial Day where it's a much more sadder occasion, but this is a great occasion that we honor, we salute. And
again, um, we have a service tomorrow. the clock school starts at 11 a.m. We hope that you'll be able to come out and celebrate the veterans that will be in attendance. We hope that you will come out and also celebrate the speaker. Um
his resume is very impressive. He's been in a lot of wars. He's had a lot of combat time and I'm excited to hear him tomorrow. So, I'm grateful for our president who's absent tonight. um reminded to put this um resolution in
that we can speak on it. Thank you, Mr. President. >> Okay, moving on to public hearing. >> The public hearing before you is a public hearing on the fiscal year 26 tax rate tax rates, minimum residential tax factor, and residential exemption.
>> Any speakers? Seeing none, we'll close that part of the meeting. on to public speaking. >> Sorry, councelor Robinson. >> Take the two orders relating to the taxes and bring them on to the floor. We
can vote on them now. >> Without objection, >> we had a public hearing. Nobody was here to speak. >> I already closed it. >> Okay. Moving them out of order. First item
before you, financial order 25F51 introduced by the council president. Order that the Chelsea City Council adopt a 35% residential exemption for fiscal year 2026. I'd ask for a roll call vote on the adoption if there are no objections.
Seeing none, clerk will call the role. >> Roll call vote requested. Yes. Vote to adopt. Simple majority required for adoption. >> Council Tari Garcia. >> Yes. >> Council Jimenez Rivera. >> Yes. >> Council Rupo. >> Yes. >> Council Taylor. >> Yes. >> Council Robinson.
>> Yes. >> Council Tesh. >> Yes. >> Council Kelly Garcia is absent. Council Santigette. >> Yes. >> Council Vega is absent. Council Brown. >> Yes. >> And councelor Des is absent. Seven members in favor. Zero opposed, four absent. Order adopted.
>> Amen. >> Final item moved out of order, introduced by the council president. Ordered that the Chelsea city council adopt the minimum residential tax factor for fiscal year 2026 with a 1.75 commercial, industrial, and personal property shift factor.
>> Ask for a roll call vote on the adoption. If there are no objections, seeing none, clerk will call the role. >> Roll call vote requested. Yes. Vote to adopt. Simple majority required for adoption. Councelor Tenar Garcia is absent. Council Jimenez River, >> yes. >> Council Rupo, >> yes.
>> Council Taylor, >> yes. >> Councelor Robinson, >> yes. >> Council, >> yes. >> Council Kelly Garcia is absent. Council Santig, >> yes. >> Council Vega is absent. Council Brown, >> yes. >> And council president is absent. Seven members in favor, zero opposed, four
absent. Order adopted. >> Moving back to regular item under business. We at public speaking. Do we have anybody who wants to participate in public speaking? Okay. Please state your name and address. Okay. Thank you very much. Good evening.
Thank you, Mr. President, once again for the record, Judith Garcia, 27 Breakwater Drive, and I am here as your state representative to give an update to the council, but also during the public hearing portion to the members listening. Clearly uh right now it's a
very difficult time with SNAP benefits and I know that there is a lot of confusion that took place over the weekend. So I am here compelled to address that considering that the city manager was incredible in hosting a
convening just last Thursday with leaders addressing food insecurity in our community where I provided an update to everyone present to understand what the state of our uh commonwealth is now in addressing this issue. As you may
have known, on Friday, it was announced the courts appealed. The courts announced that they were siding with the state of Massachusetts because we challenged the uh President Trump's administration in terms of getting SNAP
benefits in the hands of families, veterans, seniors, and people with disabilities that need it most. We won that. So immediately the governor and the house legislature we called to make sure that we processed those payments
immediately. However, at midnight there was more confusion and there was another court order that said it was okay to stop that. Um however we disagreed with that as the state legislature the governor disagreed with that and we went ahead and processed those payments. So
to set the record straight, as of this morning, residents of Chelsea, anyone who has benefits, your benefits have been restored. So if you're watching, please go out there and use your
benefits. That was about 56% of households. The rest of 44% of households will be receiving their benefits as scheduled for this week. So that's where we are now. I know all of you are very active with your
constituents. If they ask you, go ahead and use your cards. I've been in contact with my constituents. I've received photos, email saying that they have used their cards. So, that's point one. And my last point because I have less than two minutes to speak is just to let the
council know that this state legislature we decided and this was an update that I gave on Thursday. We decided to explore on what to do with a rainy day fund. We have $ 8.3 billion in our rainy day fund. So as the legislature, we are
exploring what to do with that money since we know that there will be pinches that will be felt. They will be staggered. So right now it was snap. We anticipate these staggering safety net issues to continue. So we have
established that. We are the ones who proposed that. We are looking at that closely. We have a committee who will be providing their analysis and their recommendations. And we expect that by December 15th. So December 15th, I hope
to come back to the city council, to our city manager who I keep in contact with and send you all an update of what the recommendations are. The key message for everyone here is we do have a civilization fund for a rainy day, but we need to be measured and we need to
make sure that whatever we do is in a collaborative approach and that it's measured and that we do it not at once. Just like all of you, when you introduce ordinances that bring money, you send it to a second reading and you seek counsel
before you act on it. So that's my update for everyone. Thank you so much. Thank you, city council. I commend the work that you are doing and I commend you for the one Chelsea fund. I know that you will soon be voting in favor of
hopefully um reestablishing those funds and matching what the United Way did here today. So, thank you for your leadership as municipal leaders and have a good evening. >> Anyone else for public speaking? Okay, we'll close that portion of the
meeting. >> Move on to the approval of minutes. >> You have approval of the minutes of the regular meeting of the city council held October 20th, 2025. >> Move to approve the me the minutes of the October 20th meeting. Uh under suspension if there are no objections.
>> So ordered. >> Moving on to communications from the city manager. First communication received responding to council order 25112. Update on community center. Dear counselors, I am excited to share an update on our dream of having a community center in Chelsea. We have
called this initiative the Chelsea Intergenerational Recreation Community Center. The dream is to create a center where all of our residents, regardless of their age, can enjoy recreational and supportive activities. Thanks to the hard work of our state senator and state representative, we've received an
earmark for a feasibility study for the center. The earmark was matched with local funding appropriated by the Chelsea City Council. The work is being led by Charlie Jupita and Ben Cares and is being performed by architects BH Plaza. The survey was produced which resulted in over 200 responses to
questions about the usability of the space preference for location and beginning steps in brainstorming the layout and amenities of the building. A full copy of the survey responses are attached for council's reference. We are brainstormed four potential locations for this community center. Unfortunately, none of these properties
are owned by the city and we are not sure if the property owners are willing to work with the city to house a community center. This is not an exhaustive list and other options may come in the future. St. Rose Elementary, 38 Marginal Street, Boston Hides Block and 265 Central Avenue. A full report on
the initial feasibility analysis, including site rankings, conceptual options, and operational considerations, is being finalized and will be shared with the council shortly. The report will cover some preliminary logistics around construction timeline and funding level that the city may need to anticipate for such a center. The goal
over the next two years is to establish location, conduct site assessment, environmental assessment, and cost estimates for construction while exploring possible partnerships and programming. >> You have the floor, counselor. Ah, okay. This is a good good news, but
it's not exactly what we're expecting. This has been going on now for the last 14 years. So, it's about time we stop the stuff. I've been trying to do this for the last 14 years. 14 years. And it's still saying it's going to be a
couple of years. We do studies. We do this. We do that. It's time. This needs to be done now. I think it's a long enough time. 14 years is a very long time to do such a thing. So we should have it done by maybe next year. We should maybe start the project where to
put it and build it the year after instead of having a study and wait two years and then two years from then they'll come back with another study and then another study. So stop the study and do what you got to do. Thank you. >> Okay. Next communication received from the
city manager responding to council order 25113, storefront improvement program. Dear counselors, I am writing in response to council order 25113 requesting an update on the city's storefront improvement program. Our housing and community development department utilized two rounds of ARPA funds for a storefront improvement
program at $100,000 per round. Generally, $10,000 per business is awarded in each round. We have awarded six businesses in each round. In 2024, six businesses, ARPA funded, Dylan's Russian Steam Bath, Lauanita Boutique,
Lasicia Food Corp., Orion Supermarket, Lopeza Services, and MNY Jewelry. And in 2025, six businesses, all ARPA funded, Montes Jewelry, Shiao Pizza, All Seasons Hair Salon, Glamour Hair Salon, Queen Salon, and Nutrition for you.
>> Mr. Mr. President, I move to wave the rest of the reading and um accept and file the communication. If there are no objections, I'd like to uh speak on it. >> You have the floor, counselor. >> Um so, I mean, this is a summary of what the storefront improvement program is
currently doing, which um we we are aware of. Um, past meeting, the order that was approved was requesting, you know, the city manager if he could provide a plan for doubling the amount of recipients that we would help every
year so as to make sure that the help that we're trying to give the businesses is for this year, seeing as to how they're being currently impacted day by day. um and not for next year because you know if we keep waiting we may see
some of those businesses leave. Um so I would just request that you know the city manager does respond to the order that did request doubling the number of recipients um of businesses in the city. Thank you. >> Okay. Next communication.
>> Next communication received responding to council order 25114. Update on je entrepreneur program. Dear councilors, I'm writing in response to council order 25114 requesting an update on the city's entrepreneur program. The program was launched in partnership with the Chelsea Chamber of Commerce and is being funded
with our remaining ARPA grant. We commend the city council for your advocacy and supporting the program. Small businesses are the fuel of our community, providing vital services, economic growth, and jobs for our residents. While this program began small, we hope that is the start of creating a long-term path for creating
thriving businesses in Chelsea. The chamber successfully ran an application program which was widely advertised. A copy of their flyer is attached to the letter and can be found on their website. >> Mr. President, move to wave the rest of the reading and accept and file the communications. If there are no
objections, I'd like to say quick words. >> You have the floor, counselor. >> Uh just props to the Chamber of Commerce for handling this program. I think you guys have done an amazing job. Um and let's just keep at it and hopefully we'll be able to see some of the winners soon. Thank you.
excommunication >> also say something council councelor Brown >> so be remissed if we didn't um highlight the chamber common presidents here um so she's been doing a lot of great work there um getting folks involved letting
people know about these grants and working with them um visiting them the membership has grown there so we want to really say not only has this been a great boost to the economy but she's also brought Jennifer Hasco has also
brought a great boost to our sense of understanding what we need to do down there. So, thank you for keeping us a breast of it. Thank you, Mr. President. >> Okay, next communication. >> Next communication received responding to council order 25115, business impacts from downtown construction. Dear
councilors, I am writing in response to council order 25115 regarding business impacts related to the downtown construction project. The re-imagining Broadway project began under Jay Ash's leadership before departing as Secretary of Housing and Economic Development. City manager Tom Manino continued the
momentum, holding community conversations and importantly securing funding for the project. This is a significant achievement since most of the project is being funded with state and federal grants and not local funding that creates a tax burden for our residents. These grants focus on roadway improvement, pedestrian safety, and
economic development, which are the strongest city council priorities. Over the last two years, we have held regular meetings to communicate the schedule and impacts in the downtown. We are grateful to businesses for their patience and understanding during this difficult period of transformation. I am excited to confirm that the first phase of the
project will be done before the Thanksgiving holiday. Businesses can expect all construction equipment off our streets, parking spaces back, and the roads and sidewalks restored to the best of our ability. The first phase is the most intrusive since it replaces our water, sewer, and drain infrastructure, which are deep underground. M.
>> Mr. Chair uh move to wave the rest of a reading and accept and follow under communication if there are no objections. >> See none. >> Next communication received from the city manager providing an annual update from housing and community development. Dear counselors, I am pleased to transmit the housing and community
development department's 2025 annual update summarizing progress in advancing affordable housing, infrastructure, climate resilience, and economic opportunity in Chelsea. The department leads citywide efforts and manages strategic planning, project implementation, and grant administration
to support Chelsea's growth. Key highlights are $1.6 million dispersed to the affordable housing trust fund and community preservation committee for housing and affordability efforts, supporting over 140 affordable units under construction or permitted across
five projects, including 170 cottage and fourth at Broadway. completed 38,326 linear feet of sidewalk renovation across Cottage, Bloomingdale, and Broadway. Completed Haimei Hernandez Park, converting a vacant parcel into a sustainable waterfront park. secured
$500,000 to renovate Palonia Park and $500,000 to renovate CM Park and advanced designs for Voke Park and Latimer Overlook and provided 220 plus hours of technical assistance to small businesses and improve six storefronts to the storefront improvement program
with the additional funding to seed the next round this fall of 2020. >> Cooperation like you speak on it. >> You have the floor, counselor. >> This is good. This is good. But there's something here that I want the public to understand. When they talking about affordable
housing, you have to understand what affordable housing actually is. It doesn't mean it's affordable. There's only so many units that have affordable. The rest of market rate and mixed income. So, we're giving money to people to build these affordable units. But
actually what that we should know is how many of these actual are affordable units and how many is market rate and how many is mixed income. So the people out there I want you to understand affordable housing is not affordable
housing. It's just a way to say we're going to build affordable housing. It doesn't mean if they build a 100 units it's a 100 units of affordable housing. That's what you should understand. So don't get fooled by the idea of saying
affordable housing because it's not really affordable. Go and look how many people can live in these affordable housing units and see what it is. What is the percentage of people that are allowed to live there and what is the percentage at a market rate? Market rate means that they charge you whatever the
market is in Boston. If the rent is $3,000, that's what you pay. And mixed income, they go according to how much you make. So, this is what you have to understand. Don't just get fooled by affordable housing. All right? This is what I want you to understand. I've been
wanting to let the people really understand what that means. And that's what it is. So, when they ask you about affordable housing, ask them say how many are actually affordable and how many are not. Thank you. >> Okay. Next communication. Next
communication received from the city manager requesting approval for a department to pay prior year expense. Dear councilors, I am writing to request approval for the department of public works and the Chelsea fire department to make payments on prior year expenses using their FY26 budgets. >> Mr. Chair, uh moves to wave the rest of
the reading accept and file under communication if there are no objections. >> Something coming up into new business. >> Yeah. Next, communication received from the city manager requesting approval of donation from the Carnegie Corporation of New York. Dear councilors, pursuant to Mass General Law, chapter 44, section
53A, Iv writing to request to the city council formally approved the donation of $10,000 from the Carnegie Corporation of New York to our Chelsea Public Library. The Chelsea Public Library is a historic landmark and is one of 1,681 libraries funded by Andrew Carnegie
between 1886 and 1917 driven by his belief that they were cradles of democracy. Mr. >> Chair, uh, move to wave the rest of the reviewing and accept and file under communication if there are no objections and thank you to the Carnegie Corporation. >> Be something coming up in review business.
Next communication received from the city manager requesting acceptance of FY26 Mystic Valley Elder Services Grant for exercise program. Dear councilors, I am writing to request the council formally accept a grant award of $15,000 for a health and wellness exercise program from Mystic Valley Elder
Services. >> Mr. Chair, move to wave the third the reading except apply under communications if there are no objections. >> Yeah, there'll be something coming up under new business. Next communication received requesting approval of donation from the Ruby Bridges Foundation. Dear counselors,
pursuant to Mass General Law, chapter 44, section 53A, I'm writing to request that the city council formally approve the donation of $1,000 from the Ruby Bridges Foundation to our Department of Recreation and Cultural Affairs. This effort is part of the 2025 safe room. Mr. >> Chair, I move to wave the rest of the
reading and accept and file under communication. If there are no objections, >> there'll be something coming up under new business. Yes. >> Next communication received from the city manager regarding FY26 park grant for CM Park renovation project. Dear
councilors, I am writing to you with an update on the city's park grant submission for the renovation of CM Park located at 248 Chestnut Street and a request that the city council approve the necessary funding for the project. Recently, the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs notified the
city that the Department of Housing and Community Development has secured a park grant for the renovation of CM Park, pending execution of the state grant contract, and fulfillment of all pre-awward program requirements. For this grant, the proposed scope of work at CM Park includes new playground equipment and rubber surfacing, a new
splash pad and water fountain, more trees, lighting, and a shade trellis over picnic benches. >> Mr. Chair, I move to wave the rest of the rating and accept and follow communication. If there are no objections, I believe this is also coming up under new business. >> Very good. I just asked the clerk to um skip down and read the other amounts is
all so that the public can understand um the other amounts going to the other places. Sorry. >> Yeah. Based upon the city's estimates, the total cost of the Palonia Park renovation project will be $825,000.
To date, the city has appropriated $400,000 through the FY26 capital improvement program, leaving a balance of $400,000. The city expects to be fully reimbured for $425,000 by the Commonwealth Park Grant Program. Therefore, in order to fully fund the project, supplemental funding totaling
$425,000 is necessary. As a result, I will respectfully request the appropriation of $425,000 representing the full project cost minus funding previously appropriated in the CIP. In the event a park costs ultimately more than estimate, which is not uncommon, I may return to council for a
further appropriation. Conversely, if there are any remaining funds from the project, I'm requesting authority to utilize them on any other park funded grant project. >> Thank you. Next communication, please. >> Next communication received regarding funding request for one Chelsea fund and
acceptance of gift from United Way. Dear counselors, over the past few months, our city council and administration have been working on cost-effective ways to support residents in need. We have talked about our learned experiences from COVID and the incredible ways our city came together. One of those incredible efforts was the one Chelsea
fund in partnership with the United Way. The One Chelsea Fund raised over $2 million of outside funds to provide financial assistance during the crisis. We learned that issuing preloaded debit cards is the most effective way to help residents in need. Debit cards give the city the ability to track and report
expenditures and ensure funds are used appropriately. The infrastructure is still in place and still used today to support residents in emergencies through the city's resiliency fund. Since February of 2024, 277 individuals have been served, 91 applications were
approved and 91 cards were issued and over 115,000 in funds have been distributed. Attached to the communication is the application and a tracker showing funds distributed. Unfortunately, funding for the effort ran out. The city of Chelsea is partnering again with the United Way to
relaunch the One Chelsea fund. The United Way has committed $100,000 toward the effort and will help us fund raise for the One Chelsea fund. A $100,000 match from the city of Chelsea toward the effort sends a strong signal to potential donors that the city council and administration are committed to the
success of the program. >> Mr. President, I move to wave the rest of the reading and accept and file the communications. If there are no objections, there will be an order coming up under new business. >> Mr. Chair, I'd like to speak on it if possible. >> Um, you can speak on it at at the time
when it actually comes up, unless it's the I mean, >> I'd like to speak on the communication. >> All right, you have the floor. >> Yep. So, I just want to uh first of all thank uh the city manager and uh city hall staff for a wonderful event this morning and press conference that we
held with the United Way to um to highlight the need that we're having in our community uh uh regarding food insecurity, which was an issue before the the SNAP situation even happened, right? It's just the SNAP situation made it even worse. Um and you know, today we
will be uh discussing the the matching funds. We're grateful for the the United Way for the $100,000 and the city will be matching that with another h 100,000 of our own. Um but really $100,000 at the end of the day is is a drop in the bucket compared to the need that we have in the city in terms of food. Um and I
just also want to want to mention right we we had our state representative earlier talking about this report that's going to be coming out mid December right talking about how the state may or may not end up supporting uh the city with additional funds from the rainy day fund. And I just want to say we knew
that the government was going to shut down. This was something that has been known for weeks. We knew that SNAP was going to be held, right? It's November 10th today. People haven't had SNAP for a week and a half. And it's honestly to me a little insulting to hear that the state is thinking about whether we can feed people. I think this is something
that we have needed. We need it now. And they have $ 8.3 billion in the rainy day fund. 3% of that rainy day fund would feed families across the state for a month. we can replenish that after we've used it. So, I think it's really important
that we we call on our leadership. Um, you know, we here leaders here call on our state leadership to make sure that we don't go through this again. Sure, the funds look like they're going to be released, but this might happen again at the end of January if we have another government shutdowns. And we can't have
another month and a half wait to see what happens. Um, we need people to be proactive in the way that the city is being. Um, I want to, you know, thank our senator, Salmenico, who was here and has been, you know, very, very much, uh, involved in in pushing for the legislature to do this, but we need to
move on this quickly. People at Chelsea are hungry. We saw this in the election uh, cycle. You know, people were out knocking doors and everybody was seeing people in need of food. So, we need food. People are hungry and we just need to to do what we can to to do it. And I'm glad that the city is doing it. So,
thank you to the city manager. >> Next communication. Our final communication received from the city manager requesting approval of appointments to the Chelsea Youth Commission. Dear councilors, pursuant to section 4-2 of the charter of the city of Chelsea, I'm writing to recommend the following individuals to boards and
commissions in the city for appointment to the Chelsea Youth Commission for new one-year terms. Sarah Fen and Jessica Gutierrez. I respectfully request your approval of these appointments. I have attached resumes for the new appointees. >> Move to a second reading if there are no objections.
Seeing none, so ordered. >> Moving on to communications and petitions to the council. Our sole communication received comes from the planning board regarding proposed amendment to section 34-78 special dimensional requirements of the zoning ordinances. Dear councelor de Jesus at a
duly posted regular meeting of the planning board held on Tuesday October 28th 2025 the board voted 7 to one to recommend that the council deny the special dimensional requirements amendment as proposed with the option to revise the language and resubmit to the board. Board members felt that the
amendment language was too broad and without clarifying phrasing could have inadvertent negative impacts on the city. The amendment could be interpreted to impact seafood loading for retail sites or offloading at peers in the designated poor area. In addition, the board felt that the amendment could be stronger if it included other
potentially harmful industries that should be separated from residential use such as fuel storage, chemical manufacturing, and more. More thought should be put towards crafting the amendment if the council chooses to pursue the regulation. >> Mr. President, I move to accept and file the communications from the planning
board. There are no objections. I'd like to say a couple of words. >> You have the floor, counselor. >> Yeah. So, um I presented the buffer zone before the planning board. Um and uh you know, the summary kind of gets gets the
idea of what happened is that uh planning board members believe that it needs to be better specified as to what the buffer zone is really doing. Um I was happy to see that some of the board members did agree that you know there's
sometimes a necessity um to put some buffer zones whenever it comes to some you know pollution uh substances. Um but you know this is very reflective of kind of what they're thinking and uh I look forward to continuing to work on how we
can make this um work best for the members of the community. Thank you. >> Okay. Next communication. >> Uh we are done with communications. Moving on to committee reports. >> First committee report received comes from the council president from the meeting of the subcommittee on
conference held October 20th, 2025. >> So ordered. >> Our final committee report received comes from council from the meeting of the subcommittee on public safety held October 23rd, 2025. I'd like to um accept and file
with no objections. Thank you. And um happy to speak on it. It was >> You have the floor. >> Thank you. We um had a presentation from Stantech, the consultants from uh Vision Zero, the traffic project that
uh they've been working hard on for many, many months. It was an outstanding presentation. and I saw it again at the parking and traffic commission the following week and they approved it and um I think it will be on our agenda
next week. So um vision zero refers to zero fatalities on our streets. So the work of the consultancy involved all kinds of surveys, identifying um dangerous areas
in the city, mitigating um some of those dangerous areas with some um asphalt art, etc. And uh they really did excellent work. So I'm looking forward to um this being accepted.
Thank you. Okay, on to unfinished business. >> We have no unfinished business. Moving on to second readings. First two items under second reading were taken out of order. We move on to the final item under second readings. Order introduced by council being read for the second
time. Whereas it is the express purpose of municipal zoning to promote health, safety, and general welfare of habitants of the city of Chelsea. >> Mr. President, I move to wave the rest of the reading. Uh this order requires a public hearing which um I believe believe the clerk may state where when
the date has been scheduled for that >> uh tendedly scheduled for December 1st our first meeting in December. >> So the council will be able to make the vote after the public hearing. Um so the order will not be addressed today
>> like to move it to conference. >> There are no objections. >> Any objections? You said move it to conference. >> Yeah. Want to want to talk about it? >> Yeah. Does Does that affect the public hearing scheduled? >> No, I don't think so.
>> If the meeting of conference happens before the date of the public hearing and it's affirmatively moved out of committee, then no. If it's moved to committee and stays in committee, then yes. Depending on the council's actions in committee,
>> I would object just to have the uh public their opinion and then we can move it to conference and then we can have the conversation with the input of the public if that's allowed. >> Yeah. Council a minute. >> Just the only thought on this is um
wanting to make sure that we have time to do all of these things because the council calendar is running out. So if we have the public hearing and then schedule um a meeting then we would probably run out of time because we would run out of meetings. So I would I what my suggestion would be to move it to conference now and have the meeting
before the December 1st public hearing so that we can actually do both. Um that would be my suggestion on the timeline. >> I would say that would be depend um I would say that would be dependent if the council is able to meet before that. Um so you know with with all the
effort effort that has been going on with the public I would like to at least have them the last chance to address them postboard decision. Um and then you know we can continue talking about it. >> Okay. There's a there's a motion on the floor uh to move it to conference.
So uh we're going to we're going to I think you had you're withdrawing you were withdrawing your >> you there was an objection. Um the motion for to move to conference was a roll call vote requested on the motion and a roll call votes pending to move it
to conference. Yeah. Okay. You want to you want to clarify the clarify the vote there? >> So, Councelor Robinson made a motion to refer to conference. Council objected. Roll call vote requested on a motion to
refer to conference. Simple majority required to refer to conference. Go ahead. Call. >> Oh, okay. Councelor Recuba. >> So, Let me get this straight. If we vote to send it to conference, it goes to
conference. If we vote not to send it to conference, it doesn't go to conference. Is that what we're voting on? >> Yes. So, if we vote not to send that to conference, does that ought to die or does it come back up?
>> The other pending motion on the floor was to refer it to a public hearing. That would be the next motion on the floor provided this one is defeated >> which which I believe would not preclude the council from sending it to conference afterwards. >> And and I would just say this has
already been sent for a public hearing and has already been scheduled. I believe it has been published as well. >> It has not been published yet. >> Okay. >> Coun councelor Brown. speak. >> It was sent to the planning board at our last meeting. The planning board
responded and the response time did not give me enough time to legally post the two postings in 14 business day notice to require to have it for this evening. So, the public hearing will be held on December 1st. >> Thank you, Mr. CL.
>> Unless council action deems it otherwise. other speakers. >> So the motion on the floor requested by Roco vote is a motion introduced by councel uh Robinson order to move the order to subcommittee on conference. >> Majority
>> point of order just really quick. So >> councel manis >> I believe I heard you councelor Taylor mention that we can do both. We can schedule the public hearing and we can send it to conference. Um, and is there a correct order of taking those two votes so that we can do both? Because I
don't want to send it to conference and be like, "Oh, now we can't schedule the I I want to make sure that we can do both." >> Sorry. Uh, move to suspend the rules so that the council so that the city manager can speak uh under suspension. If there are no objections, >> is there are there any objections to the city manager speaking?
>> Okay. Mr. Mr. City Manager, you have the floor. >> Thank you so much, C. I just wanted to to uh um clarify, right, that that when um when a public hearing is scheduled, it's it uh you you kind of need the
language finalized, right? Uh um what the planning board is suggesting basically is is that the council meeting, the council meet, right, and and and maybe modify the language potentially expanding or reducing or or
changing it alto together, right? So, so having a a a and I think that was an agreement on on many counselors who were present at that meeting. Um and uh um typically when a public hearing is is scheduled, right? Uh um you want to have
the language nailed down, right? So, so, um, holding a public hearing on language that I think many counselors, uh, uh, are not firm on, uh, uh, would be duplicative., right? What what the
planning board is asking is that the council meeting uh the council meet a and uh review the the language a and once the language is finalized that that language be sent back to them for a a a
essentially because because it it's it's essentially a a a new zoning amendment altogether. >> Point of order councelor Tesh. So, we can't really talk about doing any
more amendments without having the opportunity to give the public a chance to speak on what happened at the planning board. After all, this is a procedure where first you have the planning board, then you have a public hearing. Um, and it occurs in that sequence for that very reason. Um, so
that they may speak. I, you know, I am more in favor of having the uh discussion. The problem is if we are not able to make a decision before the council year is over, this matter would not move forward to the following year. So we are running out of time to be able to make uh the decision on this matter
>> and can be reinduced in January if that's the case. >> Councelor Brown, >> so in light of what's said, um the order is out of order. uh because if we don't take the recommendation of the planning
board create the language that we want to put present to the public then when they come back they don't have a chance we don't have a chance to come back and vote. So the rightful thing to do whether you get the meeting or not is to
actually finalize the language what we want the public to know what the consist of the city council is and then or have the meeting first hear them and then come back in January after January and
have the meeting. Those are the options. Other than that, the order is out of order because we had one um prior stating that they asked us to do something before acting. >> Thank you. >> Yeah. And one suggestion that I have
>> Sorry. Um is uh um the counselor uh could have community meetings, right? Uh uh there's other ways to get input from the the the public uh um other than a public hearing.
>> Uh any objections to me speaking from the chair? So I I really believe that this is a bigger thing. Um and and for us to hear once again from from the public first
makes absolutely no sense because um in a public hearing because we don't even know the ramifications uh from uh the the uh planning department uh about what this zoning
uh amendment would mean across the city. I think there's also a lot of other issues that we need to hash out in this in this conference uh to to decide if we even want to move it forward or if this
is something that the the new council um should take up and start from scratch. It gives the planning department enough time to really give us the full ramifications of something. And u you
know uh this is part of a larger problem I think where where we have decided to build residential units um up against industrial sites and that
building was there before the residential unit. So, you know, we we have to we have to really have a conversation with the council about what we want to do in terms of uh building
close to industrial sites. What's that? There's a lot of issues to hash out here and and so um you know I I I think we need to have a conference first and we need to invite the planning department
um to give us you know if they can on such short notice. I mean, this may have to go to the new council because it doesn't, you know, it doesn't make sense to rush something through um that we don't know really what we're doing or what the
ramifications are. So, um you know, I I would I would just be in favor of sending this to conference and having an initial conversation about if we even want to try to deal with this by the end of the year or if if if it's even possible. So, um, you know, I I would be
in favor of, uh, voting for the conference. Now, >> anyone else? >> You've already spoken. >> Just have one quick sentence. >> Quick, please. >> Um, I just want to highlight just not having a public hearing does not mean that we will not have public comments uh
uh portions in any of the meetings and people can come and speak their mind on these items there. So we will have space for people to speak of their mind on these things >> and if any and if any counselor wants to have a public meeting I have been
suggesting these public meetings for a long time and none of the counselors really wanted to have meetings in their in their districts. Um so so so everybody is free to do that to get the public's input. Um and uh so I suggest
that they do that they do that. Move on to the to the roll call, please. >> Roll call vote requested on the motion to refer the order to conference. Yes. Vote to adopt. >> Councelor Tener Garcia. >> Councelor Jimenez Rivera. >> Sorry, this is to move it to conference.
Yes. >> Council Rupo, >> yes. >> Council Taylor, >> yes. >> Council Robinson, >> yes. >> Council, >> no. >> Council Kelly Garcia, absent. Council Sandigette, >> yes. >> Council Lee Vega, absent. Council Brown,
>> yes. and council Dus is absent with six members voting in favor, one absent, uh, one opposed and four absent. Motion is carried. Order referred to conference. On new business, >> first item under new business, order introduced by council Taylor. order that
in accordance with Mass General Law Chapter 44 section 64 budget management procedures whereby costs incurred in FY25 were not paid and are owed to vendors and to meet this obligation funds are required from current year FY26 budgets. The Chelsea City Council authorizes the following expenditures to
satisfy unpaid balances that total $37.95 from prior years as follows. Fire department $1650. >> Move to a wait the rest of the reading and uh move this away as a means. If there are no objections. >> So ordered.
>> Next item under new business. Order introduced by councelor Taylor. Order that pursuant to section 3-5 with the code of ordinances of the city of Chelsea >> and move to wave the rest of the reading and uh move this to ways and means for the public. These are all the items that we said earlier were coming up under new business.
>> Can we bundle the remaining orders and you can read the amount? The the clerk the clerk needs to needs to read each one, I think, but we can bundle them on the on the vote >> to send to to to ways and means.
>> No, there's more than two. >> Next. Order that in accordance with Mass General Law Chapter 44 section 53A, Chelsea City Council hereby authorize the city manager to accept $15,000 grant from Mystic Valley Elder Services for health and wellness program at the senior center.
move to move to ways and means. >> The motion is fine. >> Yeah, >> he made the motion. That's fine. >> He told me. >> Next item. Order that pursuant to section 3-5 of the code of ordinances of the city of Chelsea and Mass General Law chapter 44 section 52. >> Move to the rest of the reading uh move to ways of means if there are no
objections. Next item under new business, we have an order introduced by Council Taylor. Resolution to file and accept a grant with and from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs for the Parkland acquisitions and renovations for communities program for improvements
to CM Park. >> Move to wait the rest of the reading and send this way means as well. >> Yeah. >> Next order introduced by councel Taylor. Order that in accordance with Mass General Law Chapter 44 section 53A, Chelsea City Council hereby accepts approves a grant in the amount of
$100,000 from United Way of Massachusetts Bay in Marramac Valley for public purpose of funding the one Chelsea fund program. >> Move to Ways and Means if there are no objections. >> Next order introduced by Council Taylor. order that the Chelsea City Council authorizes the appropriation of $100,000
from general stabilization fund to city manager department account series for emergency assistance efforts in the city's one Chelsea fund account also referred to as the one Chelsea fund and funding shall be available for the program until its completion. >> Move to Ways and Means.
>> So ordered. >> Moving on, we have an order introduced by the council recupo. Order that the city manager direct the Department of Public Works to resurface Central Avenue from Sherless Street to Highland Street. >> Accept the communication if there's no objection like you speak on it.
>> Okay. Um this happens because all over the city now I want the public to understand we fix the roads. Utilities company come in and break it up and then it never goes back the way that it's supposed to be. We have something within
the city itself that specifically says when the utility company comes and breaks up a road, they have to put it back the way it was. So, it's up to the city to enforce this. And I think the city should start enforcing it because
the taxpayers spend a lot of money to resurface the roads and six months later they're all broken up with holes. Thank you. Next order introduced by councelor Rupuro. Ordered that the city manager work with
relevant departments to create a searchable system that allows the city to confirm whether or not Chelsea residents have paid their tickets with cash even without a dated paper receipt. >> Accept the accept and file the communication. There's no objection like to speak on it. >> You have the floor.
>> I have a lot of issues. A lot of constituents call me and tell me when they go down and they lose that receipt, they can't prove that they paid it. I want to make sure that that does not happen. If somebody pays by cash and
cannot remember the date or when they paid it, there should be a system for them to understand how that works. So I want to know how was the system. If I come down, if I go downstairs or any of us go downstairs and pay by cash and we
can't find our receipt and we don't know the date, but then you get charged again. So every time you pay, it should show that you paid and no matter what and it should have the number of the ticket or whatever you paid. So that should never come back up again even
though you don't have your receipt. So this is what I want to make sure that if you lose your receipt and you can't find it and you can't remember the day when you paid it that no matter what that receipt is there within the system. We have the capability to do so and we
should start doing it. Thank you. >> Next order. >> Next order introduced by councelor Rupo. Order that the city manager direct the parking clerk to provide an update on the number of overnight parking tickets issued for vehicles parked illegally in the city of Chelsea. accept and file the communication like to speak on it if
there's no objections. >> You have the floor. >> I seem to have a lot of my constituents, a lot of people in the city of Chelsea themselves always want to know there's cars that are there overnight. There seem to be a system. They know exactly
when these parking people go around and park and tag the people that are not supposed to be parked here. So, I want to know exactly how many there is that they enforcing every night in the city. How many tickets are we actually issuing? How many people are there to
enforce this? Do we have one person, one police, two or three? How many are actually enforcing it all over the city to make sure that illegally parked cars do not take spots away from people that actually live in our city? Thank you.
>> Next order. >> Next order introduced by councelor Cupo. ordered that the city manager direct the department of public health to provide a report on adult and child asthma rates in the city of Chelsea and how it compares to neighboring communities accept and further communication like to speak on it. >> You have the floor council.
>> There's no objection. This the city manager did provide with the nurse downstairs. We are one of the worst. Here's the chart. This is from 2022. That's not saying 2025.
So what is causing this issue? I've had this before through the years. I asked the same question and it seems to be that the planes fly over us and drop the fuel. That was the answer I got before. So I would like to know exactly why
within our city we are the highest one of the highest of this type asthma between children and adults. What is causing it? Why don't we do some type of a Did we ever have a study to figure out what is
causing it or what reason it is? What is it? Do we live in a place where it's full of toxins that it's making this happen to us? So, I would like a further study to let me know exactly why this is happening. Thank you. >> Next order.
>> Next order introduced by councelor Rupo. Order that the city manager provide an update to the city council on the status of the proposed new fire station. acceptant file the communication like to speak on it. >> You have the floor. >> Um I'm going to be brief. The city
manager eventually I don't know if he is or he's not but I I think maybe that this city needs a fire station and it definitely needs it within my district because it does not have one. Every other section of the city has one except the waterfront that does not have one. So,
it should be one put there because uh years ago I was told by the fire department that uh oh, we can't put one there because there's too many oneways. That didn't make any sense to me. But hey, so I would like to see at least a study done why they want can't be put in
that section, the other side of the city that does not have one. Thank you. >> Next order. Next order introduced by councel recupo. Order that the traffic and parking commission look into removing the handicap parking sign at 74 Highland Street as the resident has moved. >> Accept and fther communication. There's
no objection >> and refer to traffic and parking commission. >> So ordered. Next order. >> Next order introduced by councelor Cupo. Order that the city manager look into creating a special fund to provide support for seniors in buying food.
>> Except further communication. There's no objection like to speak on it. You have the floor. >> All right. This is uh during this snap where there's not enough food, the seniors are suffering the most. So I was wondering if we can do something to at least alleviate the problem with these
senior citizens which are on fixed incomes and really without SNAP can afford to buy food. They are very important. We're always want to help everybody. Let's help the most vulnerable people we have which are the senior citizens in our city. And I hope
we can do something for them. Thank you, >> councelor Hermanz. >> Uh just want to fully agree with the counselor. Um and rehighlight for everybody the one Chelsea fund which is doing just that for seniors and for everybody else and uh go to the city website, donate to the one Chelsea fund,
make sure that we can feed as many families as we can. We are doing our part as a city, but every little bit counts and we need more. So let's keep our families fed. Thank you. >> Next order. >> Next order introduced by councelor Rubo. order that the city manager look into
state and or federal law governing salary for city employees who while members of the reserves or national guard are called to active duty and determine if it would be possible for the city to provide 100% of their salary while on active duty >> except the pilot communication like to speak on it.
>> You have the floor counselor. >> Uh I checked into this myself and what what I understand is they get 80%. And but I don't know if the city itself can do more for the soldiers that have go out and come back and uh that maybe
we should look into it to see if there actually anything we can do. I would like to know if if there's anything we can do. I know that they can get 80% of the pay, but maybe if we could could do a little more and give them 100% if it's possible. If it's not, it's not. But at
least we look into it, explore if it's possible or not. Thank you. We have we have a late order that was put in. If if there's no objection, um is there any objection to the laid order? >> Order order introduced by councelor
Brown. Order that the city manager direct the department of public works to replace a sign for Chestnut Street at the intersection with Beacon Street. >> Accept and file a communication order. Please like to speak on it. >> You have the floor, counselor. >> Thank you, Mr. President. Um I was just asking the public works to look at this
here. At some point there was a sign when you come down the bridge from the Tobin um between Beacon and Chestnut that say Chestnut Street. Um I've got a few complaints that when you go down there because that sign is not there. Some of the Uber drivers, some of the
healthc care providers, they don't see the sign that say either Beacon or Chestnut. And if you turn left and go back in, you go to the one end, but you have homes back there. So hopefully if we can get that sign up somewhere where it says welcome to Chelsea. It used to
be in that area, but I think it's just um somehow got um left out on the renovation. Thank you. That would be helpful for the residents. Thank you. >> Okay. Uh any public announcements? Okay. Um moments of silence.
Councelor Rupro. I'd like to have a moment of silence for Mr. Richard Terrasco, a longtime resident of Chelsea that passed away. Um, and also for Mr. Lenny Wilkins,
>> which was a a great basketball player. I believe he was one of the first African-American coaches to go into the finals. And him along with Bill Russell were the first two African-Americans to compete against each other for the NBA
finals. So, thank you very much, >> Council Robinson. Anyone else? Uh, also, former NFL Commissioner Paul Tagu also passed away um
recently uh on Sunday, I believe. So, um like to have a moment of silence also for him. This is